Deputy cleared in shooting of suspected child molester

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OCALA, Fla. (AP) – A deputy in north Florida has been cleared of wrongdoing in the shooting of a suspected child molester.

The Ocala Star-Banner reports that state prosecutors found that the suspect, 59-year-old Joseph Napoli, fatally shot himself before the deputy shot him in the chest.

The report found that Marion County Deputy Jessica Wilkes acted reasonably in shooting Napoli after he grabbed a loaded gun.

The report states that on May 9, Wilkes was on her way to Napoli’s home to arrest him when she saw his SUV on the side of the road. She made contact with Napoli, who returned to his car and grabbed a pistol.

Video from Wilkes’ car indicated a shot was fired from inside Napoli’s vehicle a second before Wilkes fired.

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